Bobbin winding machine



June 2, 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1

6 Sheets-Sheet -1 Inventor Charles FFi'lzgeraZd B his 1 llll June 1959c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y H H C iii"l,

entor Charles FE'Zzg Z 5 his 1 June 2, 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD BOBBINWINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Egg- P I 15 3 5 53J7 Inventor v Charles F fi'zzge/"a/a June 1959 cfF. FITZGERALD 2,89,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [09 I a f 110 L :0; 1 CI 1 1 4 -76 Z; @511: a: 1% :5 if 74 a 9,2 94 a M Inventor 7570 116 Charles F Fitzgerald June 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 InventorCharles FFi'zzgen-o/d June 1959 c. F. FITZGERALD 2,889,120

BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1955 e Sheets-Sheet s fizz/en tar2,889,120 Patented June 2, 1959 BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Charles F.Fitzgerald, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Flemington, NJL, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationFebruary 1, 1955, Serial No. 585,470 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-23 The presentinvention relates to machines for winding a series of thread packages,such as sewing machine bobbins or self-sustaining cops, and primarily toimprovements in machines which are designed for alternative operationupon packages of more than one length. As hereinafter described, theinvention is disclosed as embodied in a bobbin winding machine similarto that identified in United States Letters Patent No. 2,343,935,granted March 14, 1944, upon an application of Paul W. Senfleben, No.2,578,755, granted December 18, 1951, upon an application of R. O.Smithson and C. F. Fitzgerald, and No. 2,373,109, granted April 10,1945, upon an application of the present inventor.

The machine of the Senfleben patent is provided with a rotatable windingspindle to which a plurality of bobbins are clamped in adjacentflange-to-flange relation. The machine is equipped with a spindleadvancing mechanism arranged to cause the winding operation on thebobbins to be terminated when sufllcient thread is wound thereon andeach succeeding bobbin to be advanced to winding position. Cutting meansare also provided for severing the thread between adjacent bobbinsduring the winding operation so that when the bobbins are removed [fromthe spindle they may be disconnected readily.

To enable the Senfleben machine to advance an empty bobbin to windingposition after the preceding bobbin is fully wound the advancingmechanism includes a pawl engaging a ratchet bar which causes thewinding spindle to be moved in step-by-step relation a distance equal tothat between corresponding parts of successive bobbins on the spindle.To enable winding bobbins of different sizes the ratchet bar is providedwith two pairs of parallel rows of differently spaced notches, one pairof which is operative at a time and which is displaced angularly fromthe other pair by 90. One pair of notch rows is employed with a bobbinof one size to accommodate its length and the second pair of rows with adifferent size bobbin to accommodate its length. To render the machineadaptable for operation with either pair of notch rows the angularposition of the ratchet bar is turned relatively to the pawl, so thatone or another pair of rows is effective to cooperate with the pawl.

In order to sever the thread between a filled bobbin and one on whichthe winding operation is being started, there is adjustably mounted inthe Senfleben machine a pair of alternatively operative knives spacedlengthwise of the spindle and from each other by one-half the difference in length between the bobbins of the different sizes on whichthe machine is intended to operate. While winding a series of bobbins ofeither length, one bobbin at a time is located in win-ding position,with the space between its flanges approximately in alinement with athread guiding wax stripper from which the thread is drawn, the knivesbeing adjustable vertically toward and from operative position so thatthe knife not in use is ineffective.

Patent No. 2,578,755 to Smithson et a1. illustrates an improved threadcutter or knife mechanism for the Senfleben machine having a singleknife but operable only when bobbins of a single length are being wound.As a result of a more complicated construction the Smithson et a1. knifemechanism is not readily adaptable to use with two alternativelyactuated knives as in the Senfleben machine.

One object of the present invention is to provide an automatic machinewhich is effective for winding a series of bobbins each of a differentlength, as in the machines of the Senfleben patent referred to, withoutthe necessity of providing a separate alternatively operative knife forsevering the thread between bobbins of dilferent lengths.

Inventors Patent No. 2,373,109 discloses a traverse mechanism forwinding one or more sizes of self-sustaining cops on the Senflebenmachine. In changing from one size cop to another in inventors priormachine it is necessary to adjust manually the stroke of the threadtraverse arm so that the cops will be of the proper length. This isaccomplished in the patented machine by loosening one or more of threesetscrews. After the adjust ments have been made and the traversemechanism reclamped it is necessary to Wind a cop partially as a testfor the stroke. Frequently, repeated adjustments are necessary before asatisfactory traverse stroke is obtained. These adjustments beingdetermined by trial and error, not only require special skill andability but are time consuming and often result in substantial. waste ofthread.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an automaticbobbin winding machine having a thread traverse mechanism adjustable formore than one size bobbin or cop without the necessity of having to maketime consuming and thread wasting adjustments by trial and error.

A third object is to provide a machine for winding bobbins of differentlengths having a single knife for cutting thread between bobbins and anadjustable traverse for producing cops with a self-sustaining form ofwinding in which adjustments for both the cutter knife and traversemechanism are capable of being effected readily and precisely withoutrequiring the exercise of unusual skill or ability and the traversemechanism and knife are set to aline their movements automatically withthe winding position of a bobbin.

A further object is to provide, in a machine for winding bobbins ofdifferent lengths having a single knife movable into and out ofoperative position in a fixed plane, a bobbin advancing mechanism actingto bring one end of each length bobbin automatically to a position inthe plane of the knife. A subsidiary purpose is to enable the use of athread traverse mechanism in which the stroke of the thread traverse armalways starts in the plane of the knife and is adjustable to terminatewith precision at points determined by the length of the bobbin to bewound.

Still another object is to combine the features of construction andmodes of operation of the bobbin winding machines disclosed by thepatents noted above, without in any way detracting from their advantagesor restricting their adaptability for different types of thread or theireffectiveness in other respects.

In the illustrated form of the machine embodying the invention there isprovided a rotatable spindle arranged for supporting a series of bobbinsor other thread package holders in end to end relation, a knife movablein a plane toward and away from the winding spindle to sever threadpassing across adjacent flanges from one filled bobbin to the nextsucceeding bobbin being wound, in which machine there is also provided amechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into theposition of each filled one with one of their adjacent flanges in theplane of the knife, including a pawl and a relatively shiftable ratchet.The ratchet of this embodiment is constructed with multiple rows ofnotches so arranged that whenever the ratchet bar is turned the machineis rendered capable of winding a series of bobbins of another size. Withthe new position of the ratchet bar a flange on the leading end of acorresponding bobbin supported on the spindle is brought with precisioninto the plane of the knife. Such notch construction is contrasted withthat of the Senfleben machine where the notches are spaced and the rowsrelated to each other in such a way that neither flange of a bobbin orother holder of one size will at winding position lie in the same planeas that of another size, the respective flanges in the prior machinebeing located apart one-half the difference between the length of twodifferently sized bobbins or holders. With the ratchet bar of thepresent invention each bobbin or holder while being wound is positionedwith one of its flanges in the same plane with the single threadsevering knife regardless of the size of the bobbins. By theseconstructions the necessity of adjusting the position of the knife inpreparation for a winding operation on a diiferent size of bobbin isavoided. Also these constructions enable the use of a thread traversemechanism the adjustment of which is no longer a matter of trial anderror, the movement of the single lever to either of two fixed positionsaccomplishing the only adjustment necessary. With the use of properrelative arrangement between the rows of notches, correct relationshipis always provided for proper presentation jof the bobbins or holders tothe traverse mechanism and to the knife regardless of which size bobbinor holder is being wound, effective cutting position with relationshipto the flanges on the bobbins or holders being maintained at all timeswithout other manual adjustment. Furthermore, by this construction whichlocates the leading end of both sizes of bobbins or holders in the sameand the most elfective cutting position, the necessity for adjusting thelength of stroke in the thread traverse mechanism at both limitingpositions is eliminated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,the traverse arm has a stroke terminating, for winding both sizes ofbobbins or holders, in the same limiting plane with respect to itssupport, thereby leaving only the extent of traverse stroke for therespective bobbins or holders in one direction to be changed.

These and other features of the invention relating to certainconstructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, together with the advantages obtained thereby,will be apparent from the following detailed specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view infront elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a portion of thewinding head in a bobbin winding machine embodying the features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in right side elevation of the winding head of themachine illustrated in Fig. 1 with the thread cutter shown ininoperative position and the traverse mechanism adjusted for a largebobbin;

Pig. 3 is a detail view showing the positions of the rack bar notchesand the bobbins relative to the cutting plane of a thread severing knifewhen small bobbins are being wound;

Fig. 3a is a detail view located for convenient comparison with Fig. 3and showing the positions of the rack bar notches and bobbins relativeto the cutting plane of the knife when large bobbins are being wound;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one of a series of bobbins beingwound, showing the knife in its most desirable cutting relation to thatbobbin;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale showing thetraverse mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail viewed in elevation along the line VI-VI ofFig. 5-, showing the manner of adjust ment for the traverse mechanismwith parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail viewed in elevation along line VIIVII ofFig. 5, showing a traverse arm driving cam and a cam follower with partsbroken away and in section;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the traverse mechanism adjusted toaccommodate small sizes of bobbins;

Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 8 of the traverse mechanismadjusted to accommodate large sized bobbins; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of theapparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9 taken under two operating adjustments.

As in the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Senfleben2,343,935, the machine illustrated herein includes a frame 2 in theupper portion of which is mounted rotatably a winding spindle 4 carryingempty bobbins or cops to be wound supported on a headed mandrel 6. Themandrel is secured to the winding spindle for rotation therewith bymeans of a pin 8 cooperating with incomplete screw threads. The windingspindle and mandrel are rotated at a uniform rate by suitable drivemeans, not shown.

For the purpose of winding a series of similarly sized bobbins or selfsustaining cops, the spindle 4, or at least a part thereof, is alsomounted for axial movement so as to present the bobbins or copssuccessively to the winding position. The axial movement of the windingspindle and the mandrel carrying the bobbins is step by step orintermittent and under the control of a thread controller lit, a spindleadvancing mechanism being provided, comprising a ratchet in the form ofa bar 12 axially shiftable relatively to an escapement pawl 14 and adetent 15 connected to the thread controller, only the pawl being shownin Fig. 1. The thread controller engages the thread of a bobbin or copin winding position, and as the depth of thread increases during thewinding operation, the thread controller is moved outwardly of themachine away from the axis of the bobbin. The outward movement of thethread controller ultimately initiates the next axial movement of thewinding spindle, this movement taking place after the completion of thewinding operation on one bobbin or cop and serving to present the nextempty bobbin to the winding position. The thread controller 10 and thepawl 14 and detent 15 are carried on a rotatable shaft 16 having anumber of arms thereon. The thread controller is normally held inwardlyof the machine by a strong spring 18 and is moved outwardly of themachine as a result of increasing size of the bobbin being wound.

The step-by-step or intermittent axial movement of the winding spindleis controlled by the pawl 14 and the detent l5, successively engagingone of two pairs of rows of notches at opposite sides of the ratchet bar12., The ratchet bar is rotatable to a number of predetermined angularpositions relatively to the pawl and detent selectively to bring onepair of notch rows at a time into line with the pawl and detent. Toadvance the winding spindie both the ratchet bar and the spindle areurged to the right, as seen in Fig. l, by means of a weight (not shown)secured to a chain 2'1) which passes around a pulley 22 and which isattached to a link 24 connecting a bushing 25' on the winding spindle toa hollow bar 26, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent toSenfleben. The

12 has a reduced portion 28 extending into the opening in the hollow bar26. The hollow bar 26 carries a stud 3ft projecting axially from its endwhich fits into either of two recesses, shown in Fig. l at 31, in theratchet bar 12, the recesses being located circumferentially 99 fromeach other, each corresponding to one pair of rows of notches. The stud30, when positioned in a selected recess serves to secure the ratchetbar with the desired pair of rows of notches alined and cooperating withthe pawl and detent. The entire ratchet bar including stud 30 is heldyieldingly to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, by means of a spring 33similar to that of the Senflehen machine. In order to change from oneset of notches to the other it is necessary only to pull the ratchet barto the right and to turn it 90 until the stud 30 enters the secondrecess.

Carried by the thread controller is a thread cutter mechanism comprisinga pivotal arm 32 carrying a single bladed thread cutting knife 34. Thethread cutting mechanism is substantially the same as that disclosed inPatent No. 2,578,755 to Smithson et al.

The arm 32 is mounted on the thread controller and so arranged that itmoves the knife 34 inwardly toward the winding shaft to sever the threadrunning between a bobbin currently being wound and a previously woundbobbin after a few turns of thread have been accumulated on the onebeing wound, as explained in the Smithson et al. patent. It has beenfound that the most satis factory place to cut the thread is immediatelyadjacent to the inner surface of the flange at the leading end of abobbin or cop being Wound, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understoodthat either bobbins with integral flanges or cop holders provided withseparable disks may be used alternatively, and the position at which thecutting takes place will be the same Whether bobbins or cop holders areused.

As hereinafter specified the terms bobbins and flanges are intended toinclude their equivalents, cop holders and separable disks. Also, theleading flange referred to is that portion of the bobbin shown on theright in Fig. 4 which engages or faces the flanges of filled bobbins onthe winding spindle. The leading flange is designated by a and thetrailing flange is the left'hand one designated as b.

The arm 32 carrying the cutting knife 34 rocks about a shaft 36 underthe influence of a coil spring 38 and the action of the threadcontroller 10. Thus, the knife has a motion, toward and away from thewinding shaft always in the same plane P, forming a right angle with theaxis of the winding shaft.

As has been stated, a feature of this invention resides in mechanismwhereby the forward or leading flange a of either alarge or small bobbinis always advanced automatically to bring it to such position that itsinner surface lies in the same plane P with the thread cutting knife.When the smaller size bobbin is being wound the ratchet bar 12 movesfrom left to right as shown in Fig. 3 and the pawl 14 enters successivenotches, indicated at 42, which are spaced from each other by a distancepre cisely equal to the length of the smaller bobbin. For example, whenthe ratchet bar is moved to a position whereby the pawl 14 may enternotch 44, the winding spindle and mandrel which carry the bobbins aremoved so that the inner surface of flange a of the leading bobbin 43 ispositioned precisely in the cutting plane P of the knife. Similarly,when the next successive bobbin 45 is to be wound, the thread controllerpermits the stepwise movement of the ratchet bar, and the pawl 14 entersnotch 46 which causes the inner surface of flange a of the next bobbin45 to be located in the same cutting plane P. In like manner the notch48 in the ratchet bar is so positioned as to locate the inner surface offlange a of bobbin 47 in the same cutting plane.

In order to wind large bobbins the rack bar is pulled to the right todisengage pin 30 from the recess 31, and turned 90 where the pin 30enters the second recess. This turning movement presents the second pairof notch rows to the pawl and detent corresponding to the larger bobbin.In this second pair of rows the notches are so positioned lengthwise onthe bar relative to those of the first pair that when the pawl entersany one of the notches the inner surface of the leading flange a of alarge bobbin will be presented to the same cutting plane P. As seen inFig. 3a, when the pawl enters notch 50, the inner surface of the flangea on bobbin 51 is located at the cutting plane. correspondingly, whenthe pawl successively enters notches 52 and 54 the inner surfaces offlanges a on bobbins 53 and 55 will be presented to the cutting plane.Thus, it will be seen that whether large or small bobbins are beingwound only a single cutting knife need be employed in the machine, andno adjustment of the knife is necessary since the corresponding part,i.e., the inner surface of the leading flange of either size bobbin islocated in proper relation to it. In other words, the notches of eachpair of rows are spaced equally from the leading surfaces on the flangesof the corresponding bobbins so that the. distances D in both Figs. 3and 3a are the same.

The adjustable thread traverse mechanism of the invention is arranged todirect the thread ibeing wound on a bobbin in a self-sustaining cross orpoint wind in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to thepresent inventor. While it is essential to wind selfsustaining cops witha cross or point wind the same is not absolutely necessary in winding aflanged bobbin since the flanges support the thread. However, the threadmay be withdrawn more uniformly from a cross or point wound threadpackage than from a straight wound package so that more uniformstitching in the article being sewn will result, making it advantageousto wind flanged bobbins in this manner also.

As explained previously the inner surface of the forward or leadingflange a or washer of either a large or a small bobbin is positionedprecisely in the plane P of the cutting knife. This plane constitutesthe for-ward limit to which the traverse arm must deliver thread oneither size of bobbin. Therefore, one feature of the invention residesin the provision of a traverse mechanism where its stroke alwaysterminates in one direction at the plane P when either size of bobbin isused, and which is adjustable in the other direction to change thelength of the stroke to the space between that particular size ofbobbin. In this way the traverse mechanism is constructed to fit thepositions of the bobbins resulting from the use of the novel spindleadvancing mechanism.

The traverse mechanism is constructed and mounted in the machine asfollows: A plate 62is secured to the machine frame in any suitablemanner, a bolt 63 being shown in Figs. 8 and 9 passing across a split ina circular clamp portion of the plate which is engaged with a circularpart of the machine frame. The plate is slotted near its lower end at64, Fig. 6, to provide a recess for slidably mounting a traverse armsupporting block 66 which has a projecting rib 68fitting into the slot.The block 66 is secured to the plate 62 by means of a clamp screw 70passing through an elongated slot 72 (see Fig. 2), thereby making theblock 66 adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the machine when screw70 is loosened. Once this adjustment is made it need never the changedexcept for dismantling the machine. The block 66 is of right-angleconfiguration having avertically depending portion 75 and a horizontalportion 77. At the rear of the block 66 there is mounted in a similarmanner on the plate 62 a cam follower guide plate 74, the purpose andfunction of which will be described later.

Mounted on the support block 66, in a manner hereinafter to bedescribed, is a traverse arm or lever 76 having secured in its forwardend a thread guide 78 formed with one eye for directing the thread ontothe bobbin. At its rearward end the .traversearm carries a cam followerwhich is driven by a face cam 82 secured to a shaft 83 in the machineframe which shaft is rotated in a manner similar to that disclosed inthe above-mentioned patent to the present inventor.

Means for mounting the traverse arm 76 on its sup: porting block 66which enables its stroke to be adjusted so that it will always fit theposition of a bobbin and the space between its flanges, willnow bedescribed. For adjusting the stroke of the traverse arm there is pivotally mounted beneath the horizontal portion of the supporting block 66a single fulcrum carrying lever 84. This lever is rotatably mountedbeneath the block around a screw stud 86 passing through both the blockand the lever and being held in place by means of a nut 88. At itsleft-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 6, the lever 84 carries a pivot post90, which is the fulcrum for the traverse arm 76. This fulcrum is in theform of a bolt having a thin cylindrical portion 92 mounted directly inlever 84 and secured thereto by means of a nut 94 and a some what largerupstanding portion 96 terminating in a head 98. The upstandingportion 96of the fulcrum passes upwardly through and out of a kidney-shaped slot99 in the support block. Surrounding the upper portion 96 of the fulcrumpost which extends through the slot 99 is a loosely journaled flat-sidedcollar 100 having a rectangular head 102 acting to prevent upwardmovement of the traverse arm. In the main body portion of the traversearm '76 is an elongated slot 104 of sufficient width to fit the fiatsides of the collar 100. The collar thus provides bearing surfacesbetween the fulcrum post 90 and the sides of the slot 104 in thetraverse arm.

As previously mentioned, at the rearward end of traverse arm 76 there ismounted the cam follower which comprises a roll 108 mounted on a stud109, which passes through the traverse arm 76 and which is securedthereto by means of a nut 112, as best shown in Fig. 7. Directly belowthe roll 108 on the stud 109 is a second roll 110 of the same diameter.The cam follower guide plate 74, mentioned above, is of right angleconfiguration and has in its horizontal leg an elongated slot 114 wideenough to receive the roll 110. The walls of slot 114 serve as aguideway for roll 110, thereby limiting movement of the traverse arm andthe roll 110 lengthwise of the arm toward or way from the fulcrum post90 but permitting rotative movement of arm 7 6 around the fulcrum. Theslot 114 is shaped, as shown in the drawings, to give the desiredresulting movement to the thread guide 78. A tension spring 115 securedto the end of traverse arm 76 holds roll 108 against the face of cam 82.

At the right-hand end of the fulcrum carrying lever 84, as viewed inFig. 6, is a downward extending hub portion 116 having formed thereintwo holes 118 and 120 spaced a predetermined distance apart. Mounted inthe right-hand side of the horizontal portion of the supporting block,designated by 77, is a spring biased plunger 122 slidable vertically inthe block and having a tip 124 operable to enter either of the two holes118 or 120 in the hub portion of the fulcrum carrying lever 84.

To adjust the traverse mechanism the plunger 122 is raised and thefulcrum carrying lever 84 is rotated until the detent tip enters one ofthe holes in the hub 116 identified with the size of bobbin to be wound.The plunger fixedly locates in a predetermined position the traverse armfulcrum post 90 at one end of the kidneyshaped slot 99 in'the supportblock 66, since the fulcrum post 90 is free to move lengthwise along theslot 104 relative to the traverse arm 76 changing its effective length.However, since the roll 110 is confined by slot 114 from movementforwardly and rearwardly, the movement of the arm relative to thefulcrum post 90 gives the desired length of stroke of thread guide 73and the proper limiting positions of its movement. No further adjustmentis necessary since the different positions of the fulcrum post 90 arepredetermined by the fixed spacing of holes 118 and 120. The spatialrelationship of the holes 118 and 120 will best be seen by reference tothe diagrammatic showing in Fig. which represents the alinement of theapparatus of Figs. 8 and 9. When a large bobbin is being wound theplunger tip 124 is located in hole 118 thereby positioning the fulcrum90 at the point marked 90L. The axis of the cam follower roll moves backand forth within slot 114 in a path from point 103F to point 108R. Thisback-and-forth roll movement causes the stroke of the traverse arm toterminate at the flanged end of a bobbin and is adjustable to terminateat the other flanged end of any selected length of bobbin being wound.When the cam follower is at point 108F the thread guide 73 is at point78F which lies in the knife plane P and when the cam follower is atpoint 108R the thread guide 73 is at the point 78R. Thus, the traversestroke on a large bobbin is between the points 78F and 78R. When it isdesired to change to a small bobbin, plunger tip 12.: is moved to hole120 wherein the fulcrum carrying lever 34- is rotated around its pivot86. This locates the fulcrum at point 908. Hole 120 is spaced a distancefrom hole 118 such that point 905 lies on the line 108E'78F which liesin the center line of the traverse arm when it is in its forwardposition. Since the movement of the cam follower roll never goes beyondpoint 108F the forward traverse stroke will always terminate at the samepoint, i.e., the point 78F in plane P as long as fulcrum is located at apoint on this line. But when the cam follower moves to point 108R therearward traverse stroke is shortened, terminating at point 7 3Radjacent the rear flange of the small bobbin. Thus, it will be seen thatthe forward feeding stroke of thread guide 7% always terminates in aposition at point 78F with respect to its support block 66 regardless ofbobbin size or in which hole the plunger is placed, and the rearwardstroke terminates in a position at point 78R or point 78R depending onwhether the plunger is placed in hole 118 to wind a large bobbin or holeto wind a small one.

It will be understood that, although the illustrative machine is adaptedto wind bobbins of two lengths, it is possible to wind a number greaterthan two without departing from the spirit of this invention. The onlychanges necessary, in the machine herein illustrated, are the provisionof an additional pair of rows of notches in the ratchet bar 12 for eachdifferent length bobbin desired to be wound and the provision ofadditional positioning holes similar to holes 118 and 120 for theadditional size. The additional rows of notches necessarily must bespaced from each other by an angle less than 90.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for winding bobbins of different sizes having, incombination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins ofthe same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at anangle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing acrossthe flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, andmechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into theplace of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftableratchet constructed and arranged to bring automatically into the exactplane of the knife the flange of one bobbin at a time for bobbins of anumber of different lengths when supported in a series on the windingspindle.

2. A machine for winding bobbins of diflerent sizes having, incombination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins ofthe same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at anangle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing acrossthe flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, andmechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin into theplace of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftableratchet constructed with a number of rows of notches having spacings ineach row corresponding to the length of a particular size of bobbin andarranged with relation to one another to bring with precision into theplane of the knife a bobbin corresponding in length to the spacing ofthe notches in a particular row.

3. A machine for winding bobbins of different sizes having, incombination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a series of bobbins ofthe same size in end-to-end relation, a knife movable in a plane at anangle to the axis of the winding spindle to sever thread passing acrossthe flanges of a filled bobbin and the next succeeding one, andmechanism for advancing the spindle to bring an empty bobbin in to theplace of a filled one, including a pawl and a relatively shiftableratchet constructed with a number of rows of notches having spacings ineach row corresponding to the length of a particular size of bobbin andarranged with relation to one another to bring with precision into theplane of the knife a bobbin corresponding in length to the spacing ofthe notches in a particular row, the distance between the plane of theknife and the pawl being the same as that between a notch of either rowwhich engages the pawl and one flange of a bobbin which corresponds inlength with spacings between successive notches in that row.

4. A machine for Winding flanged bobbins of difierent lengths having, incombination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a plurality of bobbinsin end-to-end relation, a thread controller acting between the flangesof one bobbin at a time to cause the winding operation on each bobbin tobe terminated and the winding operation on the succeeding bobbin to bestarted, a knife movable in a plane normal to the winding spindle tosever thread passing from a wound bobbin to the succeeding bobbin beingwound, and advancing mechanism actuated by the thread controller forlocating successively the inner surface of one flange of each bobbin ofone length within the plane of the knife and including means forsuccessively locating the corresponding flange of each bobbin of adifferent length within the said plane.

5. A machine for winding flanged bobbins of different lengths having, incombination, a rotatable spindle for supporting a plurality of bobbinsin flange to flange relation, a thread controller acting between theflanges on one bobbin at a time to cause the winding operation on eachbobbin to be terminated and the winding operation on the succeedingbobbin to be started, a knife adjacent to the thread controller movabletoward and away from the winding spindle in a plane normal to saidspindle to sever thread passing over the trailing flange of a filledbobbin and the leading flange of the next succeeding bobbin being wound,and advancing mechanism for moving the spindle and bobbins relative tothe thread controller including an escapement pawl actuated by saidthread controller cooperating with an axially shiftable ratchet barhaving a plurality of rows of spaced notches rotatable to a number ofpredetermined positions to bring one pair of notched rows at a time intoline with the pawl, the spaces between notches in any given row beingthe same and equal to the length of a selected bobbin, the spacesbetween notches in diflerent rows being equal to the length of diflerentbobbins, the rows of notches being so positioned lengthwise on theratchet bar relative to each other that the inner surface of the leadingflange of every bobbin of each size is positioned in the plane of theknife.

6. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins inend-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding threadon a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, atraverse arm on said support having a stroke selectively adjustable toeither of two predetermined lengths in accordance with the length ofbobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction forboth lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixedrelationship with the support, and means selectively operable inaccordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle forelfecting relative movement between the support and the spindle tosuccessive relative positions in each of which the inner surface of oneof the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides with the saidlimiting plane.

7. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series ofbobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle forwinding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traversearm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of twopredetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supportedon the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths ofbobbin in a single limiting plane, and spindle advancing meansselectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supportedon the spindle for moving the spindle to a position in. which the innersurface of one of the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincides withthe said limiting plane.

8. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series ofbobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle forwinding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traversearm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of twopredetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supportedon the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths ofbobbin in a single limiting plane, and spindle advancing meansselectively operable in accordance with the length of bobbin supportedon the spindle including a pawl and relatively shiftable ratchet barhaving two relatively oriented sets of notches for moving the spindle toa position in which the inner surface of one of the flanges of thebobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

9. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins inend-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding threadon a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, atraverse arm and a fulcrum member on said support, upon which the arm ispivoted, movable to either of two predetermined positions each providinga length of traverse arm stroke corresponding with the length of bobbinsupported on the spindle and terminating in one direction for bothlengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixed relationshipwith the support, and means selectively operable in accordance with thelength of bobbin supported on the spindle for eflecting relativemovement between the support and the spindle to successive relativepositions in each of which the inner surface of one of the flanges ofthe bobbin being wound coincides with the said limiting plane.

10. A machine for winding thread on either of two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable spindle for supporting either series of bobbins inend-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle for winding threadon a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traverse arm support, atraverse arm and a pivoted fulcrum lever on said support, upon which thearm is pivoted, movable to either of two predetermined positions eachdefined by an opening for receiving a spring loaded plunger and eachproviding a length of traverse arm stroke corresponding with the lengthof bobbin supported on the spindle and terminating in one direction forboth lengths of bobbin in a single limiting plane having a fixedrelationship with the support, and means selectively operable inaccordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle foreffecting relative movement between the support'and the spindle tosuccessive relative positions in each of which the inner surface of oneof the flanges of the bobbin being wound coincideswith the said limitingplane.

11. A niachinefor winding thread on either or" two alternative series offlanged bobbins, one series consisting of long bobbins and the otherseries consisting of short bobbins, said machine having, in combination,a rotatable and axially movable spindle for supporting either series ofbobbins in end-to-end relation, means for rotating the spindle forwinding thread on a bobbin, thread traverse means including a traversearm having a stroke selectively adjustable to either of twopredetermined lengths in accordance with the length of bobbin supportedon the spindle and terminating in one direction for both lengths ofbobbin in a single limiting plane normal to the spindle, a knife mountedfor movement in said plane, spindle advancing means selectively operablein accordance with the length of bobbin supported on the spindle formoving the spindle to a position in which the inner surface of one ofthe flanges of the bobbin being Wound coincides with the said limitingplane, and means for moving the knife toward the spindle to sever threadbetween a previously wound bobbin and the one being wound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS248,032 French et a1 Oct. 11, 1881 2,088,421 Kohlhagen July 27, 19372,343,935 Senfieben Mar. 14, 1944 2,373,109 Fitzgerald Apr. 10, 19452,578,755 Smithson et a1 Dec. 18, 1951 2,670,147 Joyce Feb. 24, 1954

